NaNoWriMo Is Gone. What’s Next for Writers in November?
Every November for the past 20 years, writers flocked to the nonprofit National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) website, eager to take up the organization’s challenge: Write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. November was dubbed National Novel Writing Month in 2000, as founder Chris Baty wanted to encourage writers to take advantage of […]
When Stories Save Us: Notes from the 2025 South Dakota Festival of Books
In a time of uncertainty—for journalism, for truth, even for funding the arts—stories endure because people keep showing up with curiosity, compassion, and commitment to telling them. That truth was on full display at the 2025 South Dakota Festival of Books, held September 26–28 in Spearfish. The South Dakota Humanities Council describes the festival as […]
Your Writing Retreat: 3 Ways to Step Away and Write
When you imagine a writing retreat, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the click of keyboards as participants hammer out stories. Maybe it’s hours of quiet focus. Maybe it’s the beauty of a lake or a mountain view outside an enormous picture window. Or, maybe the term “writing retreat” is new to you. A writing […]
3 Ways to Gather Material for Your Memoir
Have you ever thought about writing a memoir? If so, you may have faced this daunting question: Where do I even begin? This very thing happened at a recent Write-In I hosted. One writer shared that he was trying to tell the story of his life—for his grandchildren. “I’m at that time in my life,” […]
4 Traits Every Writer Must Have
Do you have what it takes to be a writer? Every writer asks this of themselves at one point or another. The answer depends, of course, on how you define what it means to be a writer in the first place. When you say you’re a writer, what does that mean, exactly? Does it mean […]
What is Accountability Worth to You?
Recently, I shared a survey link with my newsletter subscribers, to get a feel for how or whether people value accountability to their writing craft. Would anyone be interested in being part of a writing accountability group? Is a virtual community built around group coaching and quiet writing time something people would be willing to […]
Should You Write Every Day?
It’s probably one of the most debated questions in the writing world. Should you write every day? Do some research, and you’ll find the answers bounce from one side of the world wide web to the other – from the hard, “Yes” to the ardent, “No.” To prove my point, here is a sampling of […]
The Power of Planning: Your Roadmap to Writing Success in 2025
Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” It is excellent advice from one of America’s most respected thinkers. Yet, it makes no sense to “get started” if you don’t know where you’re going. As a writer, one of your goals must be to write. That’s the only way your words […]
8 of the Best Books on Writing – Gift Ideas for the Writer in Your Life
The holidays are around the corner. For creative writers, that might mean stockings stuffed with gel pens and journals. (One year, my aunt gave me a set of “Writer’s Block” pencils, with pithy sayings on each pencil -pieces of advice for what to do when writer’s block hits. One of the pencil’s messages: Try vodka.) […]
5 Ways to Celebrate Small Wins During NaNoWriMo
It’s November, and for hundreds of thousands of writers worldwide, that means National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo is an exciting and enticing challenge that invites writers to put down 50,000 words in just 30 days. The ultimate goal is ambitious – participants should expect to write an average of 1,667 words per day […]